Friday night will once again see a full round of fixtures in the Momentum One Day Cup.

 

The Lions host the Dolphins in Potchefstroom in a battle for second place on the points table. The first game between these two sides was rained out in Durban, resulting in a share of the points. As a result, they are locked on 10 points and a win would secure second position behind the high-flying Cobras.

Centurion will see the first placed Cobras take on the rock bottom Titans in a must win encounter for the hosts. The Cape franchise, on the other hand, have pulled away from the chasing pack and a fifth consecutive win would all but end the race for top spot.

The Warriors welcome the Knights to East London in what could be a defining match of the season. Both sides have just four competition points, but each has reason to be optimistic. The Warriors have a game in hand on the three teams above them on the log, so a victory will put them in the mix for a top-three finish. The Knights have already played the seemingly invincible Cobras twice and will be confident that they can get on a roll leading up to the playoffs.

Players to watch:

Vaughn van Jaarsveld has found some form and he will be desperate to contribute against his former teammates in Potchefstroom. For the Lions, Lonwabo Tsotsobe has been exceptional with the ball. He will want to continue to show the national selectors that he’s ready for a recall ahead of the World Cup in February.

Robin Peterson has been the unsung hero for the Cobras. The opposition have often enjoyed quick starts before the left-arm spinner has applied the breaks. He will once again be a key component in the bowling attack on the Highveld. The Titans need a spark to get their campaign back on track. Marchant de Lange has the pace to blow away the Cobras imposing batting lineup, and he will need to do so for the Titans to register their first points of the season.

The Warriors will rely on their inspirational captain, Colin Ingram, showing the way with the bat. He has been in good touch and will fancy the look of the Knights attack. The Knights were outplayed in Cape Town on Wednesday, but Pite van Biljon showed some fight. A return to form for the No 4 could turn the Bloemfontein outfits fortunes around.

Prediction:

The Lions squad covers all the bases, but it’s difficult to look past the batting depth of the Dolphins. For this reason, the visitors should sneak a tight victory.

The Titans will be desperate for a win and the Cobras are due a poor performance, but the smart money is on the men from the Cape to make it five out of five.

The Warriors have always been a competitive limited overs side and they should give their fans something to shout about with a second win of their campaign.

Listen to Andrew Birch, of the Warriors, being interviewed by a fan who wants to be a cricket writer.

Here some fan reporters catch up with Morne van Wyk, Vaughn van Jaarsveld and coach Lance Klusene, of the Dolphins.

Photo: Backpagepix